(RSF/IFEX) – On 24 May 2005, Marcelo Borrat and Gustavo Martínez received death threats. The journalists co-host “The Hippocrates Oath”, a programme that broadcasts on AM Libre 1410 radio station and TV Libre. While preparing their programme on 24 May, Borrat and Martínez received an e-mail message threatening them with death. “The warnings are over. […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 24 May 2005, Marcelo Borrat and Gustavo Martínez received death threats. The journalists co-host “The Hippocrates Oath”, a programme that broadcasts on AM Libre 1410 radio station and TV Libre.
While preparing their programme on 24 May, Borrat and Martínez received an e-mail message threatening them with death. “The warnings are over. Now it is time to suffer the consequences,” the message said. The co-hosts had previously received similar telephone death threats in recent weeks.
“As its name indicates, our programme focuses primarily on public health care issues. In our recent programmes, we examined several private insurance companies that exploit the health system and uses mob-like tactics to make money,” Martínez told RSF.
“On Sunday 29 May, we will be airing a report about these ‘mafia intermediaries’ in the public health care system. The threats are intended to discourage us from airing the programme,” he added.
“The Interior Ministry has taken the matter seriously and offered us protection. A special unit has been assigned to our case. The Public Health Ministry is collaborating closely with police to help the investigation move forward,” Martínez went on to explain.
